While working in the fitness industry and looking to further his career, Eliot Hird found osteopathy was an obvious next step.  “I saw quite a few people with injuries throughout my time working in the fitness industry and those who regularly saw osteos as part of their injury management or regular routine were usually able to achieve their fitness and health goals.”

Eliot enjoys treating neck and shoulder issues as well as sporting injuries and the rehabilitation of those injuries, helping people get back to their sport or hobbies.

“I like treating issues with the neck because I often see a great response to treatment,” he says.

“Shoulders are interesting because they are a complex joint with many common presenting complaints.  I like the complex problem-solving aspect of these issues.”

Eliot believes everyone should be able to participate in the sport or activity that they enjoy and finds being able to help a patient get back to the activities that they enjoy through injury management or education is one of the more rewarding aspects of being a health professional.

“I want to be the osteo that people seek out when they have specific issues and one that people recommend to their family and friends when they are looking for treatment of their musculoskeletal injuries.”

Eliot enjoys being part of a team of health care professionals all working towards a common goal.

“The CSSM facilities have everything needed to provide patients the best quality care possible.”

Away from the clinic, Eliot enjoys training in the gym doing a mix of strength training, CrossFit and Brazilian Jiu Jitsu. On the weekends, you’ll find this Essendon fan watching AFL and the UFC.

Daniel Skaer was drawn to study Osteopathy through his personal experiences with sporting injuries, a fascination with the science behind the human body and a passion for helping people achieve quality of life.

“The complexity in the human body won’t adapt to change unless you create a change,” he says. “Treating injuries for their causing agents can become a preventative rather than a band-aid approach.”

Daniel is a strong believer in Osteopathy’s philosophy of treating the body as a whole, rather than simply treating the dysfunctional region. “No two patients are the same, which is why it’s so important to work with each patient to create a tailored management plan, empowering them through education and support.”

He prides himself on his ability to communicate and comfort every individual that may find seeking an Osteopath daunting as well as educating patients to help them achieve their goals.

Daniel has a specific interest in chronic pain management, hypermobility dysfunctions and structural strength assistance and uses a range of techniques including soft tissue, manipulation and mobilisation techniques.

Daniel hopes to continue to develop his skillset and contribute to research. He is also currently completing a Diploma in Equine Osteopathy with the London College of Animal Osteopathy.

Away from the clinic, Daniel loves running, going to the gym, travelling, going for walks, working with equine athletes and spending time with friends and family.

James has always been interested in how the body works, sport and strength training. For James who has worked as a personal trainer for several years – Myotherapy was the perfect progression.   

“I saw how injuries and pain impacted myself and others, from this I began to appreciate how important recovery and injury management was. I wanted better understanding of health and to be able to have a direct impact on the outcome of peoples recovery and their health. This went hand in hand with my interest in mechanics of movement, how systems in the body work and the best way to find solutions” 

“Acute conditions can be stressful because of how suddenly they impact daily life and how disruptive this can be. When these are assessed they can be managed through treatment and goals which helps a lot with uncertainty.”

“I love the challenge of appropriately reintegrating people back into sport as fast as possible while minimising the risk of re-injury.” 

Spending a lot of time strength training in the gym, James enjoys helping others who have any niggles or injuries to modify their program to keep them moving. 

“I enjoy empowering people with the information and the tools they need to manage their own health and get back to the things they love to do.” 

Away from the clinic, Hugh enjoys finding new places for good food and coffee.  Drawing, reading and spending time with his dogs.  

Kobi Phelan is a physiotherapist and a strong advocate for the role of exercise therapy in the prevention and management of musculoskeletal conditions with a particular interest in lower limb injuries.

Kobi understands the importance of tailoring treatment and rehabilitation to each patient on an individual basis when returning to sport and activity. With this in mind, Kobi places high importance on actively involving her patients in the design and implementation of their injury rehabilitation.

“I really enjoy seeing someone through the ups and downs of long term rehabilitation, and get a huge sense of satisfaction when these patients are able to return back to their desired activity.”

In the future, Kobi hopes to continue to evolve armed with the latest research and treatment techniques.

In her spare time you’ll find Kobi at the gym, taking her dog for a walk, or completing DIY jobs around the house and garden.

Senior practitioner pricing applies for consultations with Kobi.

Physiotherapist Grace Rutter believes patients should feel supported whilst being provided tailored education and a comprehensive management plan based upon their rehabilitation and lifestyle goals.

“I have grown up surrounded by family that have been living with chronic pain for multiples years and have seen how impactful it can be to someone’s life.”

Grace has a particular interest in neck injuries (including neck related headache), sporting injuries, women’s health, knee rehabilitation, as well as running injuries.

“I love being able to have the opportunity to help people do what they love, no matter their stage of life. My aim is to help people feel empowered about their rehabilitation journey to achieve their goals.”

With an additional degree in sports and exercise science, Grace also worked with various high performance athletes including the Port Melbourne VFL club

Grace has experience working in acute hospitals (cardio/ musculoskeletal/neuro), subacute settings (geriatric evaluation and management), and women’s health (acute, private, continence clinic), She has also had experience working in private practice.

Away from the clinic, you’ll find Grace on the driving range, playing netball or out for dinner with friends. When time permits, she also loves to cook and hanging out with her pet Corgi Henry.

Julia Update –  As of March 2024, Julia has re-located to the UK to live.  For your ongoing care please book in with one of our Osteopathy team.  

Osteopathy provides me with the tools to make a difference – find the source and manage someone’s pain effectively.

“The principles of osteopathy really resonated with my own values and how I wanted to help people.”

“Osteopathy is all about the holistic approach to assessment, treatment and management. Finding the source of issues and focusing our management around this is key.”

Julia enjoys treating and managing headaches, neck pain and sporting injuries using an assortment of soft tissue, mobilisation and manipulation techniques.

When she’s not at the clinic, you’ll find Julia at the Caulfield Grammarians Football Club where she has worked since 2019 as a sports trainer, hanging out with friends or out for a run along the Yarra River.

Eden was initially drawn to clinical myotherapy as a way to help her mother after a serious car accident which firmly set her focus on those in chronic pain as well as injury recovery.

“I like to educate my clients and guide them in their wellbeing. I enjoy connecting with people from all walks of life, different cultures and different fitness levels,” she says.

Eden particularly enjoys treating issues she has experienced herself including headaches, TMJ (temporomandibular joint pain in your jaw) and neck pain. “I know from personal experience that hands on work of the jaw and skull can be instantly relieving in cases of headache and jaw pain.”

Specialising in TMJ, dry needling and Pilates, Eden uses a variety of techniques including deep tissue work, joint mobilisation and exercise to treat her patients.

With a Bachelor’s degree in Biomedicine majoring in immunopharmacology, Eden firmly believes you never stop learning. “CSSM focuses on professional development for its practitioners, which allows us to grow further in our careers.”

When she’s not treating patients, you’ll find this self-confessed foodie watching UFC and boxing with her family. “I love dogs, especially Staffies and love to travel.”

Studying dancing led to Tahlia Austin’s interest in Osteopathy. “The aches and pains that often led to dancers either pushing their bodies to the extreme or sitting out of dance practice drew me to learn more about the complexities of the human body and pursue my passion of helping people overcome their injuries.”

Tahlia has an holistic approach to treatment, treating the body as a whole and working alongside her patients to achieve optimal health outcomes. “To put it simply, I love Osteopathy because I love helping people achieve both their health and personal goals!”

Throughout her career, Tahlia has worked in a variety of settings including VAFA Premier League football teams, which has given her exposure to a wide variety of acute sporting injuries and from that, the ability to accurately diagnosis and apply effective evidence-based care. “I enjoyed sharing my knowledge on rehabilitation advice and working closely with athletes to get them back onto the field.”

While Tahlia enjoys treating patients from all ages and walks of life, she has developed a passion for working with pain – both acute and chronic. In particular; low back, neck pain and sports related injuries.

“I love working at CSSM as we have built a great team environment, and all strive to provide the best service of care for all our patients.”

Away from the clinic, you’ll find Tahlia outdoors with friends, most likely walking a few laps around the Tan over the weekend. You’ll also find her fuelling her Italian food addiction by going to restaurants around Richmond and South Yarra.

After 15 years of international competitive Taekwondo, I sustained several injuries. “I was always so fascinated by how the human body functions and heals – seemingly myotherapy was the perfect fit.  An enthusiast about health, fitness and being the best version of yourself is a key factor”. 

Adele feels that analysing the main components of people’s everyday lifestyles and interests allows her to identify and provide specialised ways for a specific individual to help aid in strengthening, rehabilitating and maintaining a healthy lifestyle. Adele enjoys working with people “to help get them back to the activities they love”.

Adele executes this through a “hands-on approach”, which includes trigger point therapy, dry needling, cupping, myofascial release and treatment of musculoskeletal pain and dysfunction. Adele is a firm believer on educating her clients about their condition and what their recovery process will entail to improve their ability to manage, maintain and overcome their injuries. 

Adele has worked with NICA (National Institute of Circus Australia) and amateur basketball, netball and football leagues across Melbourne. 

In Adele’s spare time, she loves to participate in pilates, rock climbing, hiking, baking and spending time with family and friends.